The Best Ear Thermometer

Buying Guide

If you or a loved one is feeling unwell, one of the first things to do is to check the temperature. This helps you determine whether you have a fever, how high it is and whether you need to see a doctor. The temperature can be taken with a thermometer in a number of different ways: rectally, orally, in the ear and in the armpit. Not all methods are accurate for all kinds of people. For example, for babies who are under three years of age, it’s best to take their temperature rectally for the most accurate results. Testing in the armpit usually provides the least accurate results for children under three. For anyone over three years old, you can test orally, in the ear or in the armpit.

Different types of thermometers are designed for different uses. An ear thermometer is typically an infrared one that can be used in the ear or on the forehand. It uses infrared light to measure how much heat your body is emitting. Some infrared ear thermometers need to touch the inside of your ear canal or your forehead to determine the temperature of your body. Others have no-contact features, which mean that the thermometer doesn’t have to touch your body in order to read how much heat you are emitting. You typically hold the thermometer just a few inches away from the forehead and move it slightly closer until you hear a beep which tells you that the reading has been completed. Infrared ear thermometers work fast, so they are ideal for little kids who don’t want to sit for too long with a thermometer. Typically, it takes just a few seconds to get a reading.

• For many people, the response time is an important feature in an ear thermometer. This is how long the thermometer takes to read your temperature. In infrared ear and forehead thermometers, this is usually somewhere between one and three seconds.
• Consider the kinds of display features you need for your ear thermometer. A lit display makes it easy to read the display at night or in a dark room. Some thermometer displays have fever alerts, so when a reading is above a certain temperature, the thermometer tells you when you have a fever. These kinds of thermometers typically have a color-coded display, where red is for high fever, yellow is for low fever and green is for no fever.
• Some thermometers also have a memory, so it can record the last several readings. This way, you see whether your temperature is rising or falling with each check. This can be very helpful when you’re trying to gauge the next steps in taking medication or seeing a doctor.
• Many ear thermometers have audible beeps that tell you when they have read the temperature. While this is a helpful feature, it’s also important to look for a thermometer that has a silent mode. This is especially useful for small children. You can take their temperature quietly while they are asleep and avoid disturbing them.
• Some ear thermometers have age-specific features. You can program the age of the people whose temperature you’re reading so that the thermometer can provide more clarified readings. For example, a low-grade fever may not be alarming for an adult but could cause issues for a baby.